As you may have seen tonight here, here and here, we’re kicking off this year’s E3 with some big news (and the show hasn’t even started yet).
In short, we’re introducing a new PS3 model with a 80GB hard drive which will include a free copy of MotorStorm, all for the retail price of $599. This 80GB package will be available starting in August, just a few short weeks from today. The larger hard drive will give players more of an opportunity to take advantage of all the downloadable games and trailers on the PLAYSTATION Network, including the content from our forthcoming download service which will include videos, movies and other entertainment content.
In addition, as some of you speculated last week, we confirmed today that we are lowering the price of our current 60GB PS3 by $100, to $499, effective immediately in North America. I know many of you were eager to hear this and we’re thrilled to share this with you now as we head into E3.
Lastly, to keep up with the latest news, you can view a live stream of the official E3 SCEA press conference this Wednesday, July 11th, starting around 11:30 a.m. pacific time. About a half hour before the conference (11 a.m.), click here and we’ll have a live conference feed available.
And if that isn’t enough for you, we’ll have tons of content hitting the PLAYSTATION Store this week, including the SCEA press conference and exclusive first and third party videos and trailers, only available through PLAYSTATION Network. These will be available shortly after the conclusion of the press conference. We want to make sure that you’re getting the info as soon as possible. Rest assured, there is much more to come this week, including the conclusion of our Inside the Developer Studio series, so stay tuned….
Also See
SCEA President & CEO Jack Tretton outlines the details of today’s announcement (YouTube)
OK, you dropped the price, now what are you going to do for us people that purchased the PS3 in the beginning? Is that how you treat us? We’ve had a system with no games to play since it came out, and we’d like a $100 back for the time our PS3’s have been sitting in silence.
It’s not fair to us. At least send us all a free Blu-Ray copy of a GOOD movie.
@149
Every console drops in price, if you didn’t think it was worth it, why did you buy one?
Buy the $499 60GB version and then buy a bigger HDD later if you want.
Maybe if people choose the 60GB version over the more expensive 80GB version, Sony will get rid of the $600 PS3 like they did with the 20GB PS3.
Did not see this coming. Swift kick to the teeth. I bought my system less than a month ago. Like the other two Sony systems, did not anticipate a price cut atleast till next year. Could have used that extra $100 to purchase another game.
Sweet reward for the early adopter, Thanks!
This seems like a great Deal I was wating for this but unfortunatly will still wait until I hear that the Six Axis with Rumble Function is Available in the Box with the PS3. Once that is done I definintly plan to buy the PS3.
@MCWHAMMER
Now you’re just being silly.
@MCWHAMMER
Have you seen Casino Royale?
The price drop is a good thing.
But what’s the 80GB good for? Everyone was complaining about THE PRICE not about the amount of space… If it was the space on the hard drive than you guys could just be creating an external playstation 3 hard drive that you could connect using usb connection!
I think lowering the price is a good move but that 80GB is a bad move. People might nog buy it because it’s to expensive and not buy the 60GB because it’s not the best one out there….
So far my small opinion!
I will echo the comments by others. Here is exactly what I here all day long when people look at the PS3.
Person 1 “Wow that looks cool”
Person 2 “Yeah isn’t that like $600”
Person 1 “Wow, that #$@@# is expensive”
Then they go and look at the 360 and ask when the Wii will be coming in
So what has changed? Well they could have gone in and at least changed it to $500, and that would have put the PS3 in the same discussion as the 360, but not anymore. They will ignore the cheaper price model and still talk about the expensive one. My only hope is that they say “Well that one comes with a game”, but I doubt that will happen.
In all honesty, one sku at $450 would have done a world of good but one for $500 was better than nothing, however you just killed it with releasing this new PS3 for $600. People will only talk about whatever is the most expensive version you have out and that isn’t good.
In short, this was a mistake, and I hope that you can recover from it like the others that have been made.
Lastly, I own a PS3 and somewhat enjoy it, but I am finding it difficult to recommend it to other families over the Wii at this time. A PS3 at $450 with some family games would have gone a long way in changing that.
I beg you to get the PS3 to $450 with a family game and a HDMI/Component cable out by this Christmas season. That combo would get the NPD numbers back to a reasonable level.
Then do everything possible to get the PS3 down to $350 by next Christmas, and you will be able to get those ready to migrate from the PS2 up to the PS3.
One last comment in regards to software.
Do whatever it takes to keep MGS and FF exclusive and for the love of God help EA (who has just relegated the PS3 to one of it’s lowest level of development) to improve Madden. If the rumors are true the 360 version of Madden runs at 60fps and the PS3 runs at 30. I don’t care about Madden, but it does sell systems and obviously this will cause sales to go to the 360 this year over the PS3.
Woo hoo! I’m picking one up now! Thank you Sony for this!
Actually, I personally think this a dumb move, and here’s why. PS3 isn’t selling all that well compared to the competition because the price scares people off too much. I mean at launch, its SKUs were $499.99 and $599.99. After the initial launch, PS3 sales were lackluster (especially dropping the 20GB model). As much as that upset me, I agreed one SKU is better. But now, re-introducing a new SKU, having the same pricing all over again, where PS3 wasn’t selling before it, is going to hurt PS3 sales again. Now I see why PS3 is losing so many exclusives and even multi-platform games (Katamari has been lost, many third parties are delaying their PS3 games a few months, rumors about Square Enix holding back FFXIII until PS3 sales increase) because Sony just doesn’t know how to handle PS3. IMO, they should just stick to the 60GB model and continue dropping the price (bundling if they need to). PS3 gets bad press because of the $600 price tag, and doing this again will make it continue to get bad press. Just why are you doing this Sony.
That’s my overall opinion. I feel this is the worst decision Sony made all year. I was extremely upset with MS doing this (hoping Sony wouldn’t), and now they have. PS3 isn’t a computer to the general public. If PS3 is going to sell at a higher price, Sony needs to do a much better job educating the general public about it, since many assume its just a game console.
When I thought about it, at most, this bundle should be $549.99 I personally feel some consumers who want MotorStorm and a larger HDD, would buy it.
got to agree with fatherofone about lending some support to EA. im not a fan of madden as i am from manchester in england so football (soccer) is my passion but it doesnt matter which game we are talking about really because all EA sports games are big sellers and always have been, i have owned all the fifa games over the years and i am unhappy about having to live without it at the moment and will be very unhappy if it turns out that it is not worth the wait….
i would seriously consider switching to 360 if the new fifa 08 is better on 360 than ps3, i dont want to but fifa is by far my favourite game, nearly every kid in england owns a copy of fifa as im sure most kids in the u.s own a copy of madden so please please please help EA make the best of the ps3 because good quality sports games sell consoles and keep people like me happy at the same time!!!!!! hope this does not go unheard and hope you dont think im [DELETED] too much as i do like my ps3, i will just like it more when i can beat people at fifa08 online!!!!!!!!
its on!
new price .. games .. oh it is so on.
[…] to Sony and their blog, the presumed $499 60GB Playstation 3 is made actual. That means that there’s a $100 price […]
Well hopefully now the people who have been waiting for a price drop or otherwise will pick a unit up.
Keep up the good work Sony I have satisfied with the PS experience for over 10 years now.
I think the price cut for the PS3 is a brilliant idea and it really needed it.
The new SKU on the other hand…..not so good, as many posters have said, it’s just going to confuse certain consumers. I think it would have been better not to release it at all, since any user can upgrade their harddrive, unlike the Xbox elite.
On another note, I know there’s no point in saying this as the decision has probably already been made regarding this, but I think it would be wise to do everything in your power to keep MGS4 an exclusive as I have at least 5 friends who are waiting to buy the PS3 for this. After they know for certain that it’s only on the PS3, they’re going to run out and get it lol. Also, it would be a great graphical showcase of the systems power because even my uncles mouth dropped when they saw the trailer.
[…] sich betrachtet stimmt es ja: Die PS3-Variante mit 60 Gigabyte Festplatte ist günstiger geworden. Um hundert Dollar. Zumindest in den Staaten. Und das ist ja grundsätzlich gesehen eine super Sache. Denn 600 Pesos […]
Any word on the new controller?
@fatherofone, if it is true what you say about EA relegating ps3 to its lowest level of development then i have to agree with you. if this is true i am shocked and at the same time very angry that sony would let this happen, if sport loving ps3 owners have to settle for sub-standard sports games from EA as a result of sony not helping and assisting them develop and produce games then i think you will find a few people jumping ship.
i am a long time fan of the fifa games, i am very excited about fifa 08 but if when it arives it is not better or at the very least the same as the 360 version i have to consider going back to the dark side!! i owned a 360 and thought the fifa games worked well, i really do like my ps3 and dont want to have to listen to 360 owners gloating that their version of fifa 08 or even madden is as good or better than ours…..it would pi$$ me off big time!! we own a better console than them therefoe want bigger and better games so take a minute and realise sport games are very important to alot of us and we want great games to justify the price tag of a ps3 compared to a 360.
i really hope what fatherofone was saying is just a rumor but if it is not then shame on you sony because we all deserve great sports games from EA.
…what is up with the red PS button?
Sony,
YOU NEED GAMES FAR BETTER THAN THE COMPETITION.
THEN YOU WILL SELL CONSOLES.
IT’S A NIKE THING RELLY; JUST DO IT!
Best regards,
Christian
man, Sony I am really cheering for you. Price doesn’t matter to me; I would have paid $700. But I really wish that your PR could turn things around. The price cut was a good move and hopefully open the audience to some more buyers. Making the 60 gig the inferior version with a new model @ $600 bucks with only 20 gigs more…. and with a game that come August should only retail for around $40. You could have really blown peoples minds and impressed them making the new bundle the $499 bundle and the only one. This 2 bundle stuff is just confusing to average Joe customer (we blog readers understand, but average Joe is a moron). Just make one bundle or SKU and stick with it as the lowest price possible. I just think the price cut would have been more a hit if you didn’t add another SKU to cling on to that $600 price tag….
But anyways I am cheering for you to have a good E3 Sony… would love the press to finally show you a little love… if you returned some love in the form of a Heavenly Sword demo or something on the PS Store we would appreciate that as well.
@ fragged_23… ya i wish the controllers had the red button like all the literature pics use
I’d just to say that everyone who thinks this is a bad move are morons.
First, you have a $100 price drop on the 60GB, this is really good.
Secondly, and this seems to be most people’s problem. Sony is releasing the 80GB for $100 more at $599. Where is the problem here? Consumers will NOT get confused, people aren’t THAT stupid. And YES, the price is worth it. You are getting 20 more GB and a $60 game to go with it.
Why can’t people just be happy for once that there is a big price drop which will hopefully lead to a lot more sales especially with E3 this week and all the anticipated announcements?
They should have announced the price cut at E3 and then announced the bigger HD at TGS. This would have shifted consoles right now and they could have still announced the bigger hard drive in a few months time. Well too late now, the horse has bolted!
But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it game….
Compelling software sells hardware!!
Get unique and interesting games on PSN and on the store shelves and perceived value will increase and the machines will fly off the shelves.
If you guys at Sony need a new global marketing manager, I’m willing to lower my rates to work for you :).
@170
I know…im kinda jealous of that red button…is that maybe a pic of the infamous Kixaxis or Shockaxis…i like Shockaxis better i think…
@fragged_23 : Maybe the added value of the new 80GB will be the inclusion of the RuMbLe game pad as well.
That’s my guess as to what the red logo indicates.
I’m hoping it does double sales. As a PS3 owner already, I’m more excited about the download service launching.
Thank you Sony.
great news! I hope it comes with the new controller too :)
The 80 GB model will not have the PS3 Emotion Engine hardware. That looks like one way that the cost was brought to the current $599 tag. We received confirmation from SCEA after spotting a footer on the updated PS3 specs page.
“The current 60 GB model utilizes a hardware and solution for backwards compatibility, namely the Emotion Engine chip. The new 80 GB PS3 will use a software solution for backwards compatibility, similar to that currently found in the PAL model.”
http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/2292/2/
Well i don’t get the guys who are complaing about this move or comparing this with the 20 gb – 60 gb modells.
I think it is a great move for sony and for us customers. The 80 gb modell won’t increase the production cost cause it is the same console except the hdd (thats why you can’t compare it with the 20 gb modell cause it had other difernces beside the lower hdd) I think if sony includes some hdmi cables in the 80 gb bundle everyone should be fine ^^
But I am from germany so I’m more excited about when the price drop will be done here in europe… :D
Like others here, I believe the 80GB is a very bad idea. Multiple SKUs are just annoying and confusing to the average consumer. We’ll see what happens I guess… I hope that the 60GB SKU isn’t mistakenly identified as a ‘screwed package’ like the 20GB SKU and instead we see people ignoring the 80GB model.
On a positive note, I’m really happy we’ll be able to watch the press conference and get movies on PSN. I hope the servers will be able to handle the traffic.
So glad that Sony are communicating with its customers about its plans. This makes it seem that you are serious. I am genuinely excited about this weeks news. I like this blog!
But….
DONT CONFUSE THE MARKET with many different models. Those who really want a big HD will fit it. Just have one great model.
SORT OUT THE PRICE. I hear US citizens here complaining about the price. But in the UK I paid £429 quid which is $860 dollars! £299 is the magic number. Get it here and you will have a mega hit.
BLUETOOTH IN EVERY BOX.
as has been said before. I bought a bluetooth headset but its pointless when playing and nobody else has one. Put it in the box and it becomes a standard game feature.
PUT A LIGHT ON THE PS BUTTON!
It would serve no purpose but to look good and help you find your SixAxis in the dark. Red would make it look too much like ‘another’ console when it overheats. Make it blue!
Oh, and this year give us HOME, a top game exclusive, video downloads, an MMO, and news of FFVII and you will make many happy bunnys!
Great news. I wonder if Europe will see a price drop for the 60 GB version though.
im meh about the 80 gig, however the 60 gig at $499 will get a lot of attention and i support that move
well said andronix, give us these things and we will be shouting sonys’ name from the rooftops….. to all you guys in the u.s, spare a thought for us brits who paid $300 more than you for our consoles.
A price drop? That’s great for people who didn’t stand in line waiting to get a PS3 around launch time. A price drop? This should bring more players to the system that is lacking in content. A price drop? Maybe this will sell more units and actually make SONY develope exclusive games for the PS3 like the other guys who are whipping there butts in sales. A price drop? How about a rebate for the LOYAL buyers?? How about some type of reward for paying $600 for a chat box? Some people in Britain got free TV’S! and Blu-Ray movies. A price drop? How about giving players already registered a vouvcher for a game or PS Store credits? A price drop? How about the players who have had the system since day one and have had to endure the lack of games and poor quality of those games??
A price drop? DOESN’T DO ME ONE GOOD THING! I have a PS3 already. This is good news for people who aren’t REAL SONY fans.
Great Idea. Bundles always sell better and have a perceived value to the consumer. Parents will definitely jump on this or buy the 60 gb version and pay 60 dollars for a game. Which comes out to 559 without including tax. Now 2 dollars per gig is not the best deal for an extra 20 gigs.
But remember us hardcore gamers and geeks probably already have the console. This is for parents and non-gamers that want a Blu-Ray player. They will jump on this. Remember bundles have more of a perceived value than just the stand alone console. Plus there is the get 5 blu-ray movies for free also, now that is a deal.
Remember this is the first shot over the XBOX 360 an Wii bows. And it still 5 months until christmas, so I doubt this is the only thing we will see before the christmas selling season. Maybe a 200gb PS3 and a lower 120gb system at a lower price. Who knows was sony has plans to do. Sony has a lots of flexibility, they could add more memory, or they could add new controller. I believe that nintendo is purposely holding back shipments of the Wii over the Summer and early Fall so they can dump the Will at christmas time to all the people who think that the Wii is hard to find. This is an old marketing move, that most young kids do not understand. All of a sudden you will see large amounts of Wii right around christmas, to make people think that they are finding a hard to get game system. Sony is on the right track and being honest with the consumer. Sony knows how to compete in a electronics wars, and I think that they make some of the best electronics in the business. So all that falls prey to the Wii hype! Sony studies the market and makes smart moves. The PS3 is not even 1 year old yet and the big US sell time has yet to begin. I bought my system last november and I think that it is the best electronics gizmo that I have owned. So if you want more hard drive now for your PS3 hey! go get a 200gb drive and stick it in the system, oh yea it is a standard laptop drive and not a microsoft charge you a lot for there drive. So have fun and enjoy the games!
Throw in a HDMI cord/component video cables and it will make my day!!!
I take my previous comment back, apparently there’s a “Euro-PS3 price related” announcement on Thursday…. go and prove that you’re still the best Sony :)
good thing they are announcing a new download service this week. Hope fully it will be on b4 e3 begins in order to download all the media coming out of e3 a little faster and easier….
[…] to the relevant division of his huge company if they had any further queries. Then yesterday the rumour was confirmed, The price of the 60GB edition of the PS3 is to drop by $100 in the US as of […]
I can’t speak for everyone but I would really like to see you continue the Inside the developers studio series. It seems like a great way to learn about new games and hear how people in the industry feel about them. Even if you can’t keep it up at the pace you have been it would be nice to see it back once a week or twice a month or so.
AWESOME Sony pulls through again! GREAT job Sony! Keep up the GREAT work! :)
Finally, confirmation for all of those naysayers.
[…] PlayStation Blog Tags: motorstorm, prices Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where […]
Wow, i wouldn’t even buy the ps3 if it were 100 pounds. It needs good games.
[…] Fonte: PlayStation Blog […]
Bravo on the price drop, but a big question mark on the timing. Why now? Because a handful of good games have hit the shelves or are about to and you wanna clear the sales channels of back stock?
In that context it makes perfect sense. Everyone hyped from E3 but waiting for a cheaper console can get one right away.
I gotta ask, also, why every time Mr. Seybold posts a PR piece, he never responds to it? One-way communication is so corporate.